Perhaps the most popular cosmetic dentistry procedure, teeth whitening, involves the lightening and brightening of a patient’s tooth colour to a pre-determined level through bleaching.
The most common (and safe) tooth whitening technique involves using a dentist-certified whitening gel, applied using bespoke whitening trays.
The dental implant is an aesthetic dental treatment that also has a functional purpose.
Fundamentally, implants are used to replace missing teeth, and a dentist will achieve this by inserting a titanium screw that is designed to fuse with the jaw bone.
Once fusion is complete and the screw secure, a tooth crown can be attached to the screw, thus filling the gap in your smile and restoring full masticating functionality to your mouth.
While implants take at least 3 months to fit due to the fusion process, though they can last up to 15 years.
Veneers, or rather porcelain veneers, are tooth-coloured coverings that a dentist will affix over the top of a patient’s natural teeth.
One of the quickest ways to straighten crooked teeth and brighten your smile, veneers require your dentist to remove some enamel from the surface of the tooth (or teeth) receiving the treatment to fix the veneers securely.
As a result, the treatment is non-reversible.
A dental crown is a metal or porcelain and metal cap that covers a natural tooth in its entirety.
They are primarily used on broken or cracked teeth; however, they can also be used to improve the appearance of teeth that don’t require medical restoration.
To fit a crown, your dentist will drill down into the tooth and insert a peg to which the crown is fixed.
Orthodontics involves applying fixed or removable dental braces to crooked or misaligned teeth to straighten their appearance and improve the bite.
Tailored to each patient, they work by applying varying levels of pressure to individual teeth, thus pushing them into position over a period of months and providing a smile makeover.
Fixed dentures are false teeth consisting of metal, acrylic or nylon and are designed to fit comfortably over the gums to replace a missing tooth.
They can come as a complete denture, which replaces the entire upper or lower set of teeth, or partial dentures, which replace 1 or a few teeth.
While they are an aesthetically pleasing substitution for someone who has lost teeth, they also reduce the risk of a patient experiencing difficulties with speech and eating.
Enameloplasty or cosmetic contouring is a minor cosmetic procedure through which a dentist will remove a small amount of tooth enamel from the teeth to reshape or resize them.
Similarly, gingivectomy involves removing gum tissue to treat conditions such as gingivitis (gum disease) and for cosmetic reasons.
In the latter case, the gum tissue is removed and/or reshaped to reveal more tooth surface. However, dentists will only recommend this procedure if the risks are low.
Gum depigmentation, also known as gum bleaching, is a procedure employed by cosmetic dentists to remove dark spots or lighten the appearance of the gum.
The preferred technique is to use a laser to remove a thin, top layer of gum tissue, thus revealing the lighter tissue beneath.
You can find a cosmetic dental clinic near you by using our handy search tool! Just enter your location, choose a category, and click search – we’ll show you all the practices in your area.
If you have any questions, you can get in touch directly via e-mail: info@thedentalregister.com or by filling in this simple online form.
Cosmetic dentistry has become increasingly common over the past two decades as advances in technique and technology have made procedures more accessible to all.
Arguably, the most common cosmetic treatments are orthodontics and teeth whitening.
All cosmetic procedures come with an element of risk. However, if conducted by a British Dental Association registered professional, the risks are minimal.
The best treatment for lost teeth is subjective to the patient.
However, the treatment with the most longevity is the dental implant, and so if the procedure is viable, this would be the preferred option for most.
The insertion of dental implants is conducted under local anaesthetic. With that in mind, the patient shouldn’t feel any pain during the procedure.
Afterwards, patients may experience soreness where the implant has been inserted; however, this will pass with the application of over the counter pain killers and the passage of time.
Once fully fixed, if the implant is cared for correctly, no pain should be experienced thereafter.